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tuvalu |
2 definitions found From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: Tuvalu n 1: an island country on the Tuvalu islands; formerly part of the British colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands until it withdrew in 1075 and became independent in 1978 [syn: {Tuvalu}] 2: a group of coral islands in Micronesia southwest of Hawaii [syn: {Tuvalu}, {Ellice Islands}] From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Tuvalu Tuvalu:Geography Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 26 sq km land area: 26 sq km comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 24 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March) Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% note: Tuvalu's nine coral atolls have enough soil to grow coconuts and support subsistence agriculture Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, all water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities; beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the crown of thorns starfish natural hazards: severe tropical storms are rare international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea Tuvalu:People Population: 9,991 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (female 1,787; male 1,852) 15-64 years: 59% (female 3,105; male 2,764) 65 years and over: 5% (female 258; male 225) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 1.58% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 24.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 9.01 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 27.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.15 years male: 61.87 years female: 64.34 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Tuvaluans(s) adjective: Tuvaluan Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 96% Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6% Languages: Tuvaluan English Literacy: NA% Labor force: NA by occupation: NA Tuvalu:Government Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands Digraph: TV Type: democracy; began debating republic status in 1992 Capital: Funafuti Administrative divisions: none Independence: 1 October 1978 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day 1 October (1978) Constitution: 1 October 1978 Legal system: NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Tulaga MANUELLA (since NA June 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Kamuta LATASI (since 10 December 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Otinielu TAUSI (since 10 December 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Palamene): elections last held 25 November 1993 (next to be held by NA 1997); results - percent of vote NA seats - (12 total) Judicial branch: High Court Political parties and leaders: none Member of: ACP, AsDB C (special), ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), SPARTECA SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: Tuvalu has no mission in the US US diplomatic representation: none Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands Economy Overview: Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic activities. The islands are too small and too remote for development of a tourist industry. Government revenues largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. Substantial income is received annually from an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, NZ and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.8 million (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $800 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1989) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $4.3 million expenditures: $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.) Exports: $165,000 (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: copra partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ Imports: $4.4 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 2,600 kW production: 3 million kWh consumption per capita: 330 kWh (1990) Industries: fishing, tourism, copra Agriculture: coconuts and fish Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $101 million Currency: 1 Tuvaluan dollar ($T) or 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990) Fiscal year: NA Tuvalu:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 8 km unpaved: gravel 8 km Ports: Funafuti, Nukufetau Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,473 GRT/73,652 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 Airports: total: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 Tuvalu:Communications Telephone system: 108 telephones; 300 radiotelephones local: NA intercity: NA international: NA Radio: broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: 4,000 Television: broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA Tuvalu:Defense Forces Branches: no military forces; Police Force Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
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